A friend once told me that you can get quality, low price or fast service but you'll never get all three.

Exchibit A: Wal-Mart.

I'm not bashful to admit that I shop there. A lifelong bargain-hunter, I find that their prices on household products and beauty items are lower than competitors, including the Internet.

But I'm also aware of their reputation for worker mistreatment and truly terrible customer service. Earlier this year, the American Consumer Satisfaction Index released its list of the top 9 retailers with the worst customer service. Wal-Mart ranked numero uno. This is not surprising given that Wal-Mart has received the lowest rating among the nation's department and discount stores every year between 2007 through 2012.

But, let's face it, their stuff is cheap.

Recently, I ordered an Acer laptop on WalMart.com to replace my Dell, after the DVD drive, keyboard and battery all broke within the span of six months.

Since I'm cheap, I never pay for shipping and always choose the store pick-up option. But I accidentally selected Wal-Mart's Wilton Boulevard location in New Castle. The last time I visited this location was during midnight Thanksgiving madness when I observed fistfights by the big-screen TVs and women driving their carts like bulldozers.

A couple weeks back, I received an e-mail that my order was ready for pickup. Not relishing another visit to the store, I waited. And waited. And waited until the last day possible.

After steeling myself for a Wal-Mart visit that afternoon, I received an e-mail from the store explaining that my order was refunded. Huh? Apparently, when the store tells you to pick up your order by May 20, they actually mean by May 19. I called over to Wal-Mart and explained my situation to the claims representative, who told me the order would be waiting when I arrived.

Three hours later, I walked what felt like three football fields until I located the tiny site-to-store desk buried in the back right corner of the store next to the bathrooms. A gruff woman explained to me that she refunded the order that morning and there was NO WAY POSSIBLE I could repurchase the product.

I explained to her the error in her logic--that she refunded the order too early and, besides, does Wal-Mart really want to lose a nearly $650 sale?

She shrugged. I get it. It's not like that money is going in her pocket.

After haggling with two store managers, they finally acquiesced and let me pay them for the laptop that was just sitting in a back room somewhere. I thanked them for the opportunity. Clearly worried that I would take the piece of machinery and bolt, they escorted me to the cash register.

Why do I bring all this up? Because I bet a ton of other readers have similar customer service horror stories at Wal-Mart and other retailers or other service providers (Perhaps a certain cable provider that begins with a "C?")

Too often, sales clerks make incomprehensible decisions because "my system won't let me do it." Maybe it's time to change the system? Or just be practical and find another way.

This won't stop me (or possibly you) from shopping at Wal-Mart, of course. And I'm assuming Wal-Mart knows that. Which is why we as consumers are forced to choose: Quality, price or service.